Radiator fin repair tool



u y c. L. JOHNSON 2,895,358

RADIATOR FIN REPAIR TOOL Filed Oct. 23, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

BY M

C/mlsf L. Johnson United States Patent n r 2,895,358 RADIATORFIN REPAIRTOOL Christ L. Johnson, Everett, Wash. Application October 23, 1957,Serial No. 691,860 r '5 Claims. or. 81-15) This invention relates to atool .for straightening all types of motor vehicle radiator fins .orother thin metal strips which are close together, making individualstraight ening of the fins quite difl'icult.

An object of the invention is to provide a tool which facilitates thejob of straightening radiator fins. My tool in a single preferredembodiment, has a pair of shanks whose ends are formed with tines thathave confronting surfaces. These surfaces are flat and are adapted toreceive a radiator fin between them. The fin that requires repair isplaced between the tines by fitting the tool in the radiator, and thenthe tool is moved along the fin with the confronting surfaces of thetines functioning as presses by which the bent fin is straightened.

Occasionally fins" "of a radiator are so bent or occas'ionally there areradiators where the finsare s'o'stitf that a mechanic ordinarily resortsto a sharp tool like an ice pick or awl to raise the fin enough to getunder the fin with a tool. My invention by its very construction, iscapable of being used for picking the crushed fin out so that the toolcan be placed on it and the complete straightening operation performedby merely running the tool along the length of the radiator fin.

My tool has no springs nor other pants which become easily worn. Thetool is heavy duty in the sense that it is capable of being used formany, many jobs without necessity of sharpening or repair of any kind.The tool is adjustable in that there are means provided for spreading ordrawing closer together the tines to compensate for variousmanufacturers makes of radiators and various models thereof. Moreover,the tool is so constructed that the tines thereof have outer surfaceswhich exercise a straightening function on adjacent fins.

By this is meant the fin that is being worked on is fitted between theconfronting surfaces of the tines. But, as the tool is pulled or pushedalong in a direction parallel to the fin, the adjacent fins, if bent,are straightened by coming in contact with the outer surfaces of thetines.

A further important feature of my invention is the construction andshape of the tines. They are angulated between their ends to form afulcrum or heel about which the tool can be rocked or slid. Theconfronting surfaces and the outer surfaces of the tines have beenpreviously described, and they are adjustable by means which spread thetines or draw them closer together depending on the desires of the user.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the tool showing it being used on afragmentary part of a typical radiator.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with theradiator omitted.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

This application is copending with my application Serial No. 612,868which was filed on September 28,

tion 16. The rounded portion 16 and adjacent parts of the shanksconstitute a fixed position or non-adjustable handle. The shanks aretapered toward each other as they approach angulated ends 18 and 20.These angulated ends are constructed and arranged to form tines 22 and24. They are adjustable toward and away from each other by adjustingmeans 26. These means comprise a plate 28 that is welded or otherwisefastened rigidly to the tines 12 and 14 and that has an opening 30 inthe middle thereof. This opening accommodates a screw 32 that has acollar 34 fixed to it. The collar abuts one surface of the plate 28, andnut 36 fixed on screw 32, abuts the other surface thereof. Slide 38 madeof a plate in which there are enlarged openings 40 and 42, is disposed.on the pair of shanks 12 and 14 and is movable approximatelylongitudinally thereof. Screw 32 is threaded in opening 46 of slide 38and is thereby moved in a direction parallel to the axis of screw 32 inresponse to movement of nut 36. Since the tines are angulated, movementof slide 38 in this direction will move the tines toward or away fromeach other depending on the direction of rotation of nut 36.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5 a typical radiator will have radiator tubes50 and a plurality of fins such as those shown at 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55.The fins are arranged parallel to each other but they become damaged inthe normal use of a motor vehicle. My tool facilitates the repair of theradiator by straightening the fins. The tines are placed under aselected fin, for example fin 54, in straddling relation to it. Theconfronting surfaces 57 and 58 of the tines are flat and they functionas pressers for the fins. The outer surfaces 59 and 60 of the tines arealso flat and these form straighteners for adjacent fins as fin 54 isbeing straightened.

It was previously stated that the tines are angulated intermediate theirinner and outer ends in order to form a fulcrum or heel 64 that willride at the inner parts of the fins as the tool is being used. Thefulcrum can be used for rocking the tool and also for limiting the depthof penetration of the tool during the normal straightening procedure.

The outer extremities of both tines have points 66 for the purpose ofpicking fins that are too stiff to straighten by merely pulling the toolalong them and for bending and picking out fins that are too crushed tobe straightened in the ordinary use of the tool.

In use, after the tool is adjusted to the desired spread of tines, aradiator fin, for example fin 54 (Figure 5) is located between theconfronting surfaces of the tines. The tool is then merely pulled alongthe length of the fin with the surfaces 57 and 58 of the tinesfunctioning as presses to straighten the bent fins. The adjacent finswhich happen to be bent and come in contact with the outer surfaces ofthe tines will also be straightened. It is only necessary to use my toolon every other fin for this reason.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. modifications and changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,all suitable modificationsfiand equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A repair tool for a radiator that has tubes and spaced fins whichrequire straightening, said tool comprising a fixed position handlehaving a pair of shanks, slender elongate angulated ends, on said shankswhich form tines, fiat confronting surfaces on said tines between whicha fin Further, since numerous is adapted to be located and straightenedby moving said ends lengthwise of the fin, said tines being resilientand converging toward said angulated ends, a slide having openings,through which said shanks extend, and means connected with said slide tomove said slide on said shanks thereby adjusting the spacing of saidangulated ends.

2,, A repair tool for a radiator that has tubes and spaced fins whichrequire straightening, said tool comprising a fixedposition handleprovided with a pair of shanks, angulated ends on said shanks which formtines, flat confronting surfaces on said tines between which a fin isadapted to be located and straightened by moving said ends lengthwise ofthe fin, and means connected to said shanks for adjusting the spacingbetween said tines.

3. A repair tool for a radiator that has tubes and spaced fins whichrequire straightening, said tool comprising a fixed position handle, apair of shanks, slender elongate angulated ends on said shanks whichform tines, flat confronting surfaces on said tines between which a finis adapted to be located and straightened by moving said 4 endslengthwise the fin, said tines having points thereon so that. the toolcan be inverted and used to. pick out crushed portions of fins.

4. A radiator fin repair tool comprising the combination of a fixedposition handle, a pair of converging resilient shanks connected withsaid handle, a pair of parallel elongate slender tines at the ends ofsaid shanks and having outer ends adjacent to each other which areadapted to be inserted into a radiator core between the fins to pick outcrushed fins or to facilitate the bending of stiif fins to return thefins to approximately original shape, said tines having confrontingsurfaces which form a press between which a fin is adapted to bedisposed so that when the tool is moved in .a straight continuous motionalong a fin and parallel to the general plane of the fin, any bends inthe fins are pressed to their straightened condition, and adjustablemeans connected with said shanks providing limits for the extent ofspreading movement of said shanks and consequently said tines.

5. The tool' of claim 4 wherein there is .a smooth heel intermediate.the ends of the shanks and constituting a fulcrum about which to rocksaid shanks and tines;

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSJohnston Aug. 19, 1952

